Strung up a few sticks. Grabbed a beer came back and my display was blank. Only thing lit up on the display was the decimal point. I consider myself tech savvy so I checked my outlet with a volt meter and everything was fine. Disconnected the wiring and gave it another try and no dice. The panel and other buttons were completely unresponsive and the lit decimal point was all I saw.

My history with Herb hasn't been as rocky as some of the other posters but I am starting to have issues with the durability of the tension heads. This

I bought my first Wise in April of 08, and had a replacement one sent to me four months later. Used it regularly for 2 years or so and then boxed it up for a little over a year because I was Deployed to Afghanistan.

Is this the normal life span of these add on tension heads? Looks like I'm going to be on tension head number 3:roll:

The 2 year limited warranty is up so I am expecting to get the shaft on repairs or replacement parts.

As a side note: I called the support line and they were quick to tell me to mail it back. I got the typical follow the directions on our website response.

When the tension head is operational it is and awesome addition to my machine but I may go back to a crank if they quote me at some outrageous price.

Yeah I called Fedex and UPS and they quoted my around $50 to ship the unit to the company and back. I am not sure what the bill will be yet. I will sent it after the 4th of July.

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I'm not sure of the exact dimensions of the device, but it would probably fit in a USPS Priority flat rate box (maaaaaybe even a medium, but I doubt it). The large is ~16.95 I believe, and you can print out the postage from your computer, and mail from your home (carrier pickup). I ship over 90% USPS, it's just way easier for me

I don't feel as bad about this situation because I'm about to buy a mint condition Prince Neos 1000 for $300. A buddy of mine is getting rid of his machine. He doesn't play the game anymore. The machine never saw much use since he only strung for himself. I know he wants to get rid of the machine.

I don't feel as bad about this situation because I'm about to buy a mint condition Prince Neos 1000 for $300. A buddy of mine is getting rid of his machine. He doesn't play the game anymore. The machine never saw much use since he only strung for himself. I know he wants to get rid of the machine.

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Lucky! I'm waiting patiently for such a deal on a nice stringer. I just don't want glide bars. If I were to get glide bars, the NEOS 1000 is the machine I'd get. BTW, I've never seen the angled floating clamps for fan patterns.

Seems like it would not be hard to put swivel clamp rails on a glide bar table. All you need is a slot.

EDIT You could also build a brake system into the table and get a Wise. By the time you are done you would have a nice machine you could take a picture of and tell everyone how you built it. It would only take a few weeks of your time and lots of money unless you get all used parts. I would just go for a NEOS 1500.

I already have an Alpha Apex 2 so I'm not too concerned about fan patterns. I can't remember the last time I strung a fan patterned stick? Hmm maybe about 2 years.

I won't need to modify a thing. I get a mint Neos 1k for 3 bills, the manual, and all the parts. All I need to do is calibrate and get to stringing. If I run into a fan patterned granny stick I have some nice Stringway Fliers for that.

I agree with you Dire on the cost effectiveness issues with modifying the Neos.

I already have an Alpha Apex 2 so I'm not too concerned about fan patterns. I can't remember the last time I strung a fan patterned stick? Hmm maybe about 2 years.

I won't need to modify a thing. I get a mint Neos 1k for 3 bills, the manual, and all the parts. All I need to do is calibrate and get to stringing. If I run into a fan patterned granny stick I have some nice Stringway Fliers for that.

I agree with you Dire on the cost effectiveness issues with modifying the Neos.

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Hi, were you able to have your Wise Tension Head serviced? How much did it cost if you have it serviced. Mine also died and its out of warranty already. I just pulls around 10lbs.

I have 2. I just sent mine to Herb about 2-3 months ago. It costs $25 to ship from Virginia to California. I don't know why you would get charged $50 unless you're from Alaska or Hawaii. I used FedEx Ground. Did you keep the box it came in? And, as others mentioned, the cost was about $50. Seemed more than reasonable for mine.

I have 2. I just sent mine to Herb about 2-3 months ago. It costs $25 to ship from Virginia to California. I don't know why you would get charged $50 unless you're from Alaska or Hawaii. I used FedEx Ground. Did you keep the box it came in? And, as others mentioned, the cost was about $50. Seemed more than reasonable for mine.

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so herb paid to ship it back to you, heh? probably not, so you paid $25 to ship from VA to CA and he charged you $25 to ship it back to VA. in my book, that's $50. 8)

I have 2. I just sent mine to Herb about 2-3 months ago. It costs $25 to ship from Virginia to California. I don't know why you would get charged $50 unless you're from Alaska or Hawaii. I used FedEx Ground. Did you keep the box it came in? And, as others mentioned, the cost was about $50. Seemed more than reasonable for mine.

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You know, to be honest, I kept the box because my old crank head fit in there and I knew it would keep it out of dirt/dust. It was just a no brainer as far as I was concerned.

Reputable companies pay shipping both ways. Herb could never afford this because his product breaks constantly. I have owned two of these and my advice is to STAY AWAY! Save up for a high quality electric machine. I have a Prince 5000 in my shop now and it was worth every penny.

Reputable companies pay shipping both ways. Herb could never afford this because his product breaks constantly. I have owned two of these and my advice is to STAY AWAY! Save up for a high quality electric machine. I have a Prince 5000 in my shop now and it was worth every penny.

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To be fair, almost 90% of the RMAs I've ever had to do was free return shipping, but the customer was responsible for getting the product to the company. Honestly, TW is one of the only companies that I know that pays return shipping. Amazon allows for printable labels for their returns, but IIRC the cost of shipping (discounted) is taken out of your return.

To be fair, almost 90% of the RMAs I've ever had to do was free return shipping, but the customer was responsible for getting the product to the company. Honestly, TW is one of the only companies that I know that pays return shipping. Amazon allows for printable labels for their returns, but IIRC the cost of shipping (discounted) is taken out of your return.

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agreed. but with herb, you pay to ship it to him which is fine, but he also charges to ship it back to you.

as long as wise owners and folks considering a wise are aware of that and it's fine by them then there's no problem.